Dear Friends of Parent to Parent,
Steve Mason has recently resigned his position as the Executive Director for Parent to Parent of Vermont. We thank Steve for his service to Parent to Parent over the last two years and thank him for his contribution to our movement toward merger discussions with the Vermont Parent Information Center. The Board is very pleased to announce that Julie Arel has agreed to step in as Acting Executive Director. She joined Parent to Parent in 2001 and has shown tremendous leadership in moving the vision and mission of our organization forward through her role in Family Support, her commitment to family-centered care, her success in grant writing and her mentorship of our wonderful staff. We are confident that Julie will continue our forward movement in our merger discussions and most importantly, in meeting the priority needs of our families. Please join our excitement in welcoming her as the Acting Executive Director for Parent to Parent of Vermont.
Respectfully submitted, Patricia A. Prelock, President, Board of Directors  

Dear Friends, I am so honored to be Acting Executive Director of Parent to Parent of Vermont. Since I joined this fabulous organization in 2001, you have graciously allowed me to be a part of your lives as warmly as you have welcomed Parent to Parent into your lives. I know I speak for all staff at Parent to Parent when I say that your strength is our inspiration, your sorrows are felt deeply by us, and your joys are our celebrations. That is why I am so happy to share some exciting information with you. As many of you already know, for over a year now Parent to Parent of VT and the VT Parent Information Center have been discussing ways in which the two organizations could work more closely together in order to better serve families of children with special needs in Vermont. A committee made up of board and staff members from each organization met to explore the possibility of a merger. This is a natural move for these “sister” organizations that essentially grew up together under the leadership and guidance of Nancy DiVenere and Connie Curtin. We grew up with many of your children as well! The Boards of the two organizations came to an agreement on the process by which they would formalize their work toward the exploration of a merger. A Steering Committee was formed to guide the process and a Memorandum of Understanding was ratified by both organizations in January 2006. Some of you may have already taken part in a survey of families regarding this ongoing work. For those of you who have not yet had an opportunity for input, there will be other chances and, of course, you are always welcome to contact me or any of our staff. These are exciting times for all of us. We want all of our friends to know that during the next several months both organizations will be cooperating closely in this process. We will be contacting many of our families and partners to discuss their suggestions and ways our efforts might be supported. I would like to thank the Steering Committee for their extensive work to date and dedication to this process. And I would like to recognize Steve Mason, our outgoing Executive Director, for his commitment to Parent to Parent and to the merger discussion in particular. I also must take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Board President Patricia Prelock for her tireless dedication to Parent to Parent of Vermont these many years. Patty will be missed greatly not only for her leadership and compassion, but for her friendship. We are thankful that Patty will continue to remain involved in Parent to Parent as a friend and colleague. As Patty steps down, Megan Sutton will be stepping forward. A parent and an active community member in Addison County, Megan will be a wonderful new president. From our hearts, we thank you Patty, and thank you Megan. For those friends I have already met, I look forward to growing more with you in my new role. For those families I have yet to meet, I look forward to getting to know you and hope to call you “friend” soon. As I close on this note of friendship, I reflect on the article Circle of Friends on page 5 of this newsletter. Having Friendship and a safe circle of belonging is essential to the human spirit. I love the lessons that the Circle of Friends concept brings to all involved through the simple act of extending one’s soul and spirit to another. That is what Parent to Parent of Vermont is all about.  © Warmly, Julie

  
Fall 2006 - In this Issue:
100th Supporting Parent Training
Circle Of Friends
Family Voices & Advocacy
Thanks
Updates
Annual Appeal

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